OT: Heading for Iran.. producing my first documentary.

Liam_Vegas wrote on 5/25/2004, 2:12 PM
A few weeks ago I found myself with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to combine my interest in science/astronmomy with my video production skills.

I'll be heading to Iran for an 18 day tour of the country with a bunch of astronomers.

The usual reaction I get when I mention this to anyone here is "what! Are you totally frikkin mad?". Maybe so.... but...

The astronomy stuff is only a small part of the story. The real story that I hope to capture is the personal interactions between the local people of Iran and these visiting astronomers (most of whom are Americans).

It seems a little known fact is just how pro-American the Iranian people actually are. That is what I hope to be able to portray. We'll see.

I am not a documentary producer.. although it is definitely something I have wanted to do. In a way much of the work I have done over the past few years has been leading me in this direction... so hopefully I will be able to step up to the task and bring back some stuff that will make for a good documentary.

Last month I was lucky enough to meet Joan Van Tassel at the SCVUG meeting in LA where she presented on her experiences covering Iraq in the immediate weeks after the "major" ground operations(!) finished... so I gleened from Joan some ideas on equipment that she found most useful to have with her when you have to be "self contained. Hopefully I'll not get there and find that "if only I had <this> it would be so much easier".

So... if you have any suggestions for me related to my trip... I would love to hear them.

Be back soon!

Grazie (and others in the UK)... to get to Iran I'll be flying via London and then I'll stop in the UK on the way back (June 14th) for a few days to see family before heading back to California (17th). I don't think I'll have time to get together this time.... but I would like to do that some other time.

p.s. I will be using a PD170 with a backup of my TRV900.

Comments

mjroddy wrote on 5/25/2004, 3:00 PM
Best of luck, mon ami!
I almost had the chance of MY lifetime by going to Iran to shoot some military jets - including from the inside - which meant i was going to get a ride! HOOHOOO!! My passions: flying and video.
Unfortunately for me, that fell through. I wish you the best on your project! Stay safe.

mjr
stormstereo wrote on 5/25/2004, 3:17 PM
Two things:
1. Look into what type of permits you need and what type of visa. The authorities might be concerned about how you portray Iran. If you do this officially they might insist on providing you with a man that must be present at all times while shooting. The cost for this is yours (food, hotels) plus a small day fee. You might also have to provide them with several copies of the script, perhaps translated. Note that I do not know how this works in Iran, I just happen to know this is how it works in Thailand. If you go unofficially you can just pretend to be one astronomer that does this for the sake of the group and the outcome is just for »novelty purpose«. MAYBE you can be a journalist that covers the astronomers trip but then you have to have the press ID-card, and I really don't know how they would like to have an American journalist there without someone from the authorities present. As I said – look into it.
2. Keep an open mind.
Best of luck, I know you'll have a fantastic trip!
/Tommy
farss wrote on 5/25/2004, 4:41 PM
Guess you already know this but it's worth saying again. In many parts of the world some people, particulalry the elder ones are very nervous about having cameras pointed at them. I've found putting in a few minutes of time to befriend them and they'll usually give you the nod. Don't point the camera at them and then try to get them onside.
Two things I'd have in the kit, plastic bags with zip closures and cling wrap. Sand is a horrid thing, I've still got bits of desert inside my EVF. For the 170 get hold of the Sony battery charger that runs off a car battery if you're really getting into the wilds, get someone to make a lead for it with big alligator clips so you can hook it straight up to the car battery, not every vehicle in the 3rd world has a working cigarette lighter.
A working knowledge of local customs and a few phrases always goes a long way, if you can fit it into the kit, someway to printout still photos will really melt the ice in villages. You'll have friends for life just by handing them a photo of their kids.
RalphM wrote on 5/25/2004, 4:56 PM
There are also permits that allow you to get your equipment in and out of a country without running afoul of the local customs people. You may want to search on that topic at www.dv.com This has been discussed there in the past.
Liam_Vegas wrote on 5/25/2004, 7:30 PM
Yep... thanks for the tips... I am doing this low-key as a member of the tour that I am with. The contacts we have in Iran are comfortable with what I am doing and that is good enough for me. If you hear of some english guy with an astronomy tour being arrested in Iran in the next few weeks... think of me!

-Liam
Liam_Vegas wrote on 5/25/2004, 7:35 PM
All good advice... thanks. I am travelling with a group that are "old hands" at the Iranian thing so I hope my expectations will match their descriptions. I have no reason to think otherwise.

If interested further you can watch the 30 minute cable show I produced which has a presentation by the organizer of the trip all about his experiences with the Iranian people in relation to amateur astronomy. here

That video was produced entirely in Vegas (so I guess it brings this back On Topic)... and you'll also see me as the presenter/host of the show.

It was that presentation that prompted me to do this.

Thanks for the support.

-Liam
Cheno wrote on 5/25/2004, 7:39 PM
Congrats on the doc, Liam. Have a safe trip and we can't wait to see some of your footage on your return. Or are you planning to stream it each night like at NAB ;)

Mike
Liam_Vegas wrote on 5/25/2004, 7:53 PM
Congrats on the doc, Liam. Have a safe trip and we can't wait to see some of your footage on your return. Or are you planning to stream it each night like at NAB ;)

Thanks... and funny you should say that... as one part of the tour (the whole reason for it actually) is to view the "Venus Transit" event where the planet Venus crosses in front of the Sun. It does this every 122 years. It will take it 6 hours to cross the surface of the Sun. The Astronomers I am with will be viewing/capturing the transit and this will be fed out to TV monitors on the site.

They are looking to get a satellite uplink to the site... and if they do I may be using my streaming media server to send this (rather specialized... and probably mostly boring) event out to the world.
busterkeaton wrote on 5/25/2004, 9:17 PM
Iran has a thriving film industry. Over the past decade Iranian films have been honored at film festivals around the world. Some folks have compared this burst of films to Italian neorealism and French New Wave.

If you haven't already, I would recommend viewing some Iranian films before you go. I recommend films by Makhmalbaf, Panahi and Kiarostami

Good luck, it sounds like an amazing trip.

Just found this website which looks like it will be helpful.
http://www.iranchamber.com/index.php
SonyEPM wrote on 5/26/2004, 7:00 AM
make sure you have a way to charge your batteries...sounds obvious but I have been burned by this (my Bauer brick charger didn't do euro current, had to buy one for big bucks in Holland)
Grazie wrote on 5/26/2004, 7:44 AM
God Speed! - .. . come back safely too .. . Grazie
FuTz wrote on 5/26/2004, 8:45 AM
Yes, a good transfo for your goodies that don't support 230volts...


"if you can fit it into the kit, someway to printout still photos will really melt the ice in villages. You'll have friends for life just by handing them a photo of their kids. "
I so much agree with that. And look at their face when you hand them the picture; you will *never* forget that of all your life too... Sony and Canon make some relatively cheap portable printers now (around 200-300 bucks plus paper/ink). Both USB.


And just a link you may have already looked at but, hey, just in case you haven't:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/middle_east/iran/index.htm

Pay attention to the "Facts for the Traveler" section since it gives you practical info on health/vaccination, electricity, time zone and a bunch of other hints ... like you may have problems to get there if you got a visa for Israel stamped in your passport (valid or expired)...

Enjoy your trip and bring back nice images!
Liam_Vegas wrote on 5/26/2004, 10:20 AM
Power: Most everything I am bringing works dual voltage.. so I should be ok. I have the correct power adaptors (useful to have people on the trip who know for certain what is needed). So I should be OK there. My batteries should last for 4 days at a stretch if I really don't find anywhere to charge for a while.

Good idea about the photo printer... but probably too late (and too tight a fit in my gear) to add even a small item like that... but I'll see what I can do. That would certainly go a long way to breaking the ice. I am not actually carrying a still camera this time (others in the party will be).

Visa is already sorted (otherwise I would not be going).

Thanks again for the advice.